‘She broke the glass ceiling.’

What a jagged image we use for women who achieve greatly, defining accomplishment in terms of the barrier rather than the triumph. There she is up where the air is thin, where men still outnumber women, but where the altitude is awesome. Our goal with Firsts, which we will continue to update as new barriers are broken, is for every woman and girl to find someone whose presence in the highest reaches of success says to her that it is safe to climb, come on up, the view is spectacular.

This Colombian born latina has made her way around the world but calls New York City home, she tells us why “por que mi mama me dijo que es la capital del mundo!” Google translate, it’s funny! She likes the idea of living in an area centrally located between Los Angeles and Europe, where much of her work takes place.

Charria’s very foundation of her practice, and the work ethic is shaped by being a Latin-American woman. She wears a badge of honor when representing Latinos around over the world, especially in metropolitan cities like Paris where Latinos are a minority amongst minorities. It was a natural fit for Charria to practice in Paris, since creativity is international this has allowed her to be in the right place at the right time. Charria’s work has taken her work around the world to include NYC, Los Angeles, Berlin, Madrid and Paris.

Portrait by Parker Day

Paris has always been home to great artists . She is most inspired by the underground and creative subcultures. Recently, she has been discovering a Parisian music scene that blends techno, world, and afro-beats. Her biggest inspiration though, is Gertrude Stein, an American woman living in 1920’s Paris best known for her auspicious gatherings. She discovered and mentored artists like Picasso, Hemingway, and Miró.

IN HER WORDS:

My path to Paris was the Rue de Fleurus, a personal pilgrimage to walk the streets where the greats have strolled. I love working with artists. Brand collaborations allow me to merge the two worlds in a way that feels authentic. My goal in this is to to contribute to developing a new economic system in which creativity holds the key. A highlight in my career was recreating David Lynch’s Red Room in collaboration with Polaroid Originals.

Photography by Parker Day // Styling by Orchid Satellite // Creative Production by Nathaly Charria

Analog instant photography brand Polaroid Originals has teamed up with Californian photographer Parker Day to present “Still Got It” Campaign, a bold and playful series that represents decades of individuality, demonstrating that style is never a question of age. Best known for her hyper-saturated film photography that exaggerates the character of the personalities she shoots, Day’s photo series presents subjects like internet phenomenon Baddie WinkleI, Frances Davis(first wife of Miles Davis, actress, and first black ballerina in the Paris Opera Ballet), musician Shamon Cassette, curator Marc Ransdell-Bellinger, as well as actors Graham Mackie,Darla Parsen and Regina McKee Redwing. Captured in Day’s signature eye-popping style, the photos feature strong characters born from the 60s to the 80s – juxtaposed with individuals in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Each subject is portrayed with a Polaroid camera from that era, or with the recently launched Polaroid OneStep 2 camera, while the imagery showcases the fashion, hair and makeup of its time. Creative Production by Nathaly Charria.

The series also aims to emphasize how different generations can inspire each other. Special moments have been captured on Polaroid film for decades. The younger generation is now discovering how, in an increasingly digital and disposable world, Polaroid pictures are something to hold onto–this series brings back that good old-fashioned nostalgia with some added spunk.

Experiential agency Sense NYC celebrated their first year of business in the US with a collection of illustrations featuring the women that inspired the team in 2017. This initiative is a collaboration between Sense' favorite female Creative Director, Nathaly Charria, and their in-house illustrator, Alana McDowell in London. These diverse illustrations honor women who change the world through their unapologetic presence and self-expression. The project was featured in US Campaign, Media Post, WNW, and was the Women's Day Editor's Pick of Adweek.

British lifestyle brand Superdry continues its global expansion by exploring the connection between art and fashion at the grand opening of their West Coast flagship store at Westfield Century City. To celebrate the grand opening, Superdry has commissioned a series of photographs by LA-based artist Parker Day featuring an iconic cast of the city’s most influential misfits. The exhibition titled “Portraits” presents Day’s first series of black and white photographs alongside a musical performance by rapper and producer Hodgy. Creative Direction by Nathaly Charria.

This month-long installation celebrates the diverse culture of the Superdry brand. With the opening of their West Coast flagship store, Superdry redefines how patron and gallery spaces can coexist within a retail environment. Art and fashion have long drawn inspiration from the muse. This exhibition unifies both industries around a cult group of local style misfits. In her portraits, Day captures the raw essence of each subject, styled in Superdry by @mstr_of_disguise aka Ann-Marie Hoang.

TODAY Saturday 8/08 Nathaly Charria joins John Lovell in Portland on XRAY FM at 4PM PST for SAVAGE BEAT. Please tune into 107.1FM or live stream for the best of 60s underground alongside a Miami-style conversation about upcoming projects, collaborations, and the influence of punk in contemporary culture.

Los Angeles documentary filmmaker Eric Minh Swenson tells the story of Millie Brown's Rainbow Body and her supporting cast in this short video. Eric focuses on documenting the LA art scene through film, photography, and writing. Within the last three years, he's produced nearly 400 films on the art world and is always a familiar face amongst the crowds.

British performance artist Millie Brown—famous for puking on Lady Gaga during the singer’s 2014 SXSW performance—will unveil her fourth solo exhibition in Los Angeles on April 10. Presented by Nicole Ehrlich and curated by Nathaly Charria, “Rainbow Body” will feature whimsical paintings all created “using almond milk, food coloring, stomach and hands”—a more pleasant way of referring to Brown’s unusual practice, where she vomits colored milk directly onto canvases (Amazing). This particular group of paintings pulls inspiration from Brown’s new home in California, collectively telling “the story of the Los Angeles sky, its past and its present, its light and its dark.” We caught up with Brown to dissect this exhibition, discussing abstract expressionism, enlightenment and Buddhist monasteries:

Millie Brown’s “Rainbow Body” opens with a private reception on April 9, hosted by Flaunt Magazine, and will run through April 23 at 8472 Melrose Place.

On “Rainbow Body:”

“‘Rainbow Body’ is a reflection of my time here in California. The palette’s inspiration came from the skies, shapes, architecture and energy of the city. Each of these paintings embodies that energy and my presence within it. In many respects, my paintings are the climax to a solitary performance of their own creation. Using my body to paint from the inside out with stomach and hands. The process is of equal importance to me as the result on canvas. I relate to the abstract expressionism movement, which in some senses was the birth of performance art itself. The artist behind the painting became a performer, projecting his/her self onto the canvas and opening up a whole new way to use the tools we possess.”

On the sky:

“Every day I climb a mountaintop, sit and meditate, while looking over the city and into the sky. I’ve become more fascinated by the sky than ever before in my life. The colors and combinations of shades are different from anywhere else—they inspire me to recreate their infinite beauty through myself and body.”

On living in Los Angeles:

“I’ve become used to working and creating in London for so long: The fast pace, the grayness and raw creativity surrounding me. I love it and thrive within that environment. In LA, it’s the polar-opposite, yet somehow a perfect complement and in some ways an antidote to what I’ve become accustomed to. I’ve spent more time in nature here and that’s influenced the inspiration within my work. I feel people in LA have a very different outlook on life and encourage ambition in others more than other places I’ve lived. I don’t create unless I’m in the right headspace to create a positive piece of work. I think this city has given me a more positive outlook and that translates on to my canvases.”

On her process:

“I used the same process to create these pieces as my previous ones, but this time I used a different technique with my hands and dripping to manipulate the paint, rather than leaving the splatters where they fell. I wanted to see all color on ‘Rainbow Body’—color from side-to-side. I wanted to get lost within the color-scape and movement.”

On enlightenment:

“Every performance I’ve ever conceptualized has pushed my own physical boundaries, opening up a vulnerable and often uncomfortable place mentally. I believe we can only grow mentally and spiritually by exceeding these self-made boundaries. Although we are physical beings existing in this physical realm, we are also way more powerful than we believe. Our minds are truly incredible tools. Every time I push past the discomfort into this state of mind, I find a sense of enlightenment from within—a place where my creative thoughts have no limits and my mind feels liberated.”

On Tibetan and Buddhist Theology:

“The concept of ‘Rainbow Body’ is deeply rooted in Tibetan and Buddhist theology. It is the observation from a third person’s perspective of another being gaining complete knowledge: Enlightenment. The person observes the other as a spectrum of colors all embodying a rainbow presence. My performances have roots in some spiritual practices. Much of my childhood was spent in Buddhist monasteries and spiritual retreats—I’ve drawn from these experiences, but do not relate personally to any one religion. I think it’s more powerful and natural to draw from all, taking the good from each as inspiration for life. These elements often seep into my work.”

Natology is proud to share Jos McKain's latest work for White Arrows' Nobody Really Cares. As the main character in the video, McKain presents a chilling performance and choreographed piece that exemplifies an outsider perspective within the social world. Acting and performance are one in the same, as an artist McKain brings stories into reality and this particular video shares just that. Congratulations to White Arrows and Jos McKain for this beautiful collaboration. It's stirred some discomfort amongst critics and praise amongst the avant-garde. Click here to read Noisey's full review. Thanks for the love!

El Oftalmólogo Curiosoor The Curious Ophthalmologist is an curatorial blog dedicated to the curious eye and its aesthetic doctors. Alongside an invitational line up of international purveyors of all things beautiful, weird, and cool, Natology brings her favorites to the mix. Created by Madrid sister Dr. Teresa Jimenez, the concept brings together various trusted perspectives into an online gallery that is an ever-changing place for discovering the world's cultural underground. The internet hosts a great source of inspiration and El Oftomologo Curioso presents a wonderful place for sharing its visual delights. Happy New Year to my family of aesthetic doctors!

The Curious Ophthalmologist is an audiovisual blog created with the objective of showing and sharing innovative pieces that our curators “Doctors” believe that should be seen and above all distinguished by their originality.

No geographical or ideological boundaries, we want to show trends and counter-trends, rarities and oddities that have the ability to surprise and deliver the unexpected things to see.

We are interested in all types of audiovisual works: short , bumpers , trailers , advertisements, animations, experiments... and we want to show under a criterion to provide new points of aesthetic, creative and narrative view. But beware, we are a news magazine covering today ‘s environment.

That said, we hope you enjoy the blog and your aesthetic point of view better every day.